Road construction



G. H. PADGETT.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION. APPLlAlon FAILED Nov. 20, 1919.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

WITNESSES /N VEN TOR A TTHNE YS PATE-NT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY PADGETT, or EDWARDS, NEW YORK.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

Speciiication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. '7, 1922.

Application led November 20, 1919. Serial No. 339,288.

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it kno-wn that I, GEORGE H. PADcEr'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edwards, county of St. Lawrence, `State of New York, have Ainvinted a new and useful Improvement in Road Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to road construction and has particular reference to the construction of a track or Wearing rail on which vehicles may traverse the road.

The primary lobject of the invention is to provide yatrack or. Wearing rail in road ways on which vehicles may be driven and tc so construct the track or wearing rail that it may serve as a means for vdraining the road thus helping to maintain the road in good repair.

Heretofore roads are usually constructed without regard to establishing a track or wearing rail on which the vehicles may be run. Then again the draining system of the roads has been inadequate to meet the demands occasioned by heavy rains. Ac cording to my invention I propose to provide a combined track or wearing rail and drainage system whereby the vehicles that traverse the road vmay be run on the track or wearing rail thus reducingthe chance of accident as well as overcoming the effects of custo-mary wear on the road surface, and other conditions which make it highly desirable to drive thevehicles lon a track which has an unusual amount of wear resisting qualities and is replaceable.

The preferred construction of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which, 4

F"guie l is a perspective view of a road constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the relative position of the parts on a grade.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line` 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 44: is a perspective view of one of the track sections.

Figure 5 is a perspective viewy of' one of the conduit sections which is made to support the cap section referred to in- Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of cap. L A

Figure 7 is a oerspective view of still another modified form of cap. v v

Accordingto the invention, it is proposed to produce a road bed such as 5, the same being produced of any desirable material. Arranged longitudinally in the road are trenches or gutters which are made to receive the conduit sections 6, which are placed in the trenches end to end to provide a relatively long conduit. Each of these conduits is preferably constructed with battered side walls with bridge pieces 7 spanning the spaces between the side walls at the top of each' section. These sections are also rovided with openings as at 8 and 9 vw ich are arranged in the vertical side walls lestablishing a drainage of the road bed through the conduit. Some of these openings extend almiost the entire height of the Iside walls, others of which, such as 8 being relatively short. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the side walls in this section are provided with relatively large openings 10 which may communicate with a conduit running transversely of the road or drainage pipe as the case may be. Each ofthe conduit sections is recessed at the top of the side walls, the recesses being so arranged as to present raised portion or lugs 11. Inasmuch as it will be desirable' to replace the track orwearing rail sections, thei same are made detachable from the conduit sections to which end they preferably comprise a cap l2, which is recessed along the edge of the bottom vside, the recesses corresponding to the top of the conduit sections, and also adapted to provide lugs or raised portions 13. I The bridge pieces 7 of the conduit section are also bevelled to accommodate the raised portions or lugs 13 of the caps in the recesses of the conduit sections. yWhen in place, the lugs or-raised portion on the cap sections will engage the recesses in the conduit sections and interlock these two parts together. To maintain the tread of the, vehicles on the' track or wearing rails the caps or track sections are provided with raised portions or lugs 14 alono their sides. These lugs-14 are not so high as to prevent the vehicle being steered off the track or wearing rail if occasion demands, and at the same time they present an interrupted iange which under normal conditions will keep the vehicle on the track. According to the track or wearing rail section or cap shown in Figure 7 these lugs or raised portions are dispensed with as it is desirable touse this kind of cap or track section at the intersecmerely moldln'g the sections to meet this rerods or other flexible `means l5, may be arranged in the'track caps to strengthen the structure. A

Of course it is to'be'un'derstood that any number of these tracks or wearing rails may be arranged in parallel relation on the road according to the width of the road and the number of vehicles that are to be accommodated to passeach otherside by side. On av very narrow road it maybe only possible to use one track or wearing rail, that is to say a pair of tracks or wearingrails in which case, vehicles will pass each other by steering off the track as provided for lin the interrupted flanged rail. Where the road is open to general traflic in both directionsnot less than two pairs of tracks or wearing rails will be suiicient. When the water is drained fromthe road through the conduits it may be discharged into culverts or piped into gutters by means of pipes arranged transversely of the road and communicating with the opening 10 in the side of some of the sections.

As shown in Figure 2 the sections are built to conform to av gradient and set thereon as in a trench'cut to the engineered gradient desired. 'It is to be understood -that the arrangement may be used on curves with the same advantages as on a straight away, by

quirement.

The essence of the invention resides in providing parallel trenches with bottoms corresponding to the desired gradients and curves of the finished roadway and in which trenches are set for the track or wearing rail sections of course including the conduit sections, of uniform height and built of such form as to conform to the said associated gradients Land curves. As shown in Y Figures 4 and 6, the cap sections may be prov1 ed with galvanized wire cable reinforcing means with the ends of the cables projecting beyond the sides of the caps, for securing the sections in place. The track or lwearing rail sections are reversible by reason of the rproper spacing of the recesses and lugs and are capable of being laid to break joints with the conduit sections 'which support them. The confrontin ends of these caps are slightly bevelle tomake av generall open joint for the admission of water tot e conduit and also in order that the caps may be laid .with a suliciently close joint wherever a' change of gradient occurs. As shown in Figure 6 the cap sections may be made in hali sections, the use ofthese half sections is shown in Figure 2.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows j A`1. In a road'construction, a track comprising a plurality of conduit sections placed end to end longitudinally of the road, each section consistingS of a bottom, side walls and spaced bridge pieces connecting the side walls at the top, and a removable cap for/ each section provided with spaced lugs at each longitudinal edge.

2. In a road construction, a plurality of conduit sections placed end to end longitudinally of the road, each section consisting of a bottom, side walls havingV openings therein, and bridge pieces connecting the side walls at the top, and a removable cap for each section.

. 3. In a road construction, a pair of parallel conduits, each conduit being made in sections, and a replaceable'track cap onv each conduit and made in sections, -the conduit sections and cap sections having interlocking I engagement v 4. n a road construction as set forth in claim .3 and in which the interlocking engagement of the track c ap and each conduit comprises recesses in the top of the --walls and bridge pieces of the conduit sections and lugs. on the bottom side'ofthe track caps4 recelved in said recesses'.

5. In a road constructionas set forth in lsaid sections bei^ng of such ti e; construction as to form a drainage conduit withvertical' openingsf piercing the sides of theconduit conduit, and. patterned to engage and lock and support wearingl rails as described. i

7. In a road construction, in combination with parallel trenches and drainage conduit supporting conduits, a wearing ra1l made in convenient sections with interrupted tram- 1 mel upon eitheredge thereof so'spaced asv to form lugs to engage the corresponding conformation of the supporting conduits capablo of re-enforcement and with protruding '.tie ends of suitable wire or cable with which to secure'the sections in place, all as described. v

8. As a new commercial product, wearing caps ,for conduit sections, said caps made in convenient sections vwith interrupted trammel edges, and 4with tie ends protruding for the purpose specified, said caps adapted when abutted end wearing rail .for vehicular taflic..

GEORGE HENRY PADGETT.

to end, to constitute aH 105 establishing a drainage system through the 

